Retreat and Attack: The Ninth Connecticut at Cedar Creek

Retreat and Attack: The Ninth Connecticut at Cedar Creek

In the early morning of the 19th October 1864, Captain John G. Healy of the Ninth Connecticut Infantry had his men stand to arms at their breastworks on the east bank of Cedar Creek. ‘The Irish Regiment’ was part of the Union XIX Corps of Major-General Phil Sheridan’s Army of the Shenandoah. Now reduced to battalion strength, Healy and his small band of men had been alerted by the sound of firing from their left flank, where the VIII Corps positions were. As the commotion intensified, it became apparent that Confederate troops of Lieutenant-General Jubal Early’s Army of the Valley had flanked the Federal positions, routing the VIII Corps in the process. The situation of the XIX Corps and Healy’s Connecticut Irishmen was now extremely perilous.

As the XIX Corps began to feel the full force of the Confederate assault, the Ninth had no option but to retreat. Captain Garry T. Scott of the Regiment described how they were ‘driven out of our fortifications’ being forced to fall back ‘several miles’. Moving along their line of works, they withdrew from one position to the next as the Rebel wave came on. As they attempted to form with a portion of their Brigade, Healy could see that the retreat was fast becoming a rout, with ‘men of other regiments…running by us, going in all directions to the rear’. However, as the Confederate attack ran out of steam, it was a case of cometh the hour, cometh the man. The Ninth’s army commander Phil Sheridan was not about to let his army disintegrate.

Officers of the Ninth Connecticut: James Graham back row left, John Healy front row centre, Garry Scott front row second right

Sheridan had actually been away at Winchester when Early’s troops struck. Hearing the firing, he rode hard for the front where he saw his men flooding to the rear. Private John McKenna of the Ninth recalled how he was ‘twice taken prisoner at Cedar Creek, but got away from them in time to be in line when Sheridan rode up’. Sheridan succeeded in rallying the XIX Corps for a counter-attack, in which the Ninth Connecticut participated. Captain Healy describes the scene: ‘we advanced through the woods, the enemy pouring shot and shell into us, but with very little effect. We now received orders to charge. My men went at it with a will, the colors of my battalion being always in the advance. The officers of the Ninth rallied their men, and they pressed forward after the retreating enemy. The chase was kept up until dark. The enemy being driven from the field we were now ordered to occupy our old camp.’

Sheridan's ride from Winchester rallying his troops

Captain Scott recalled that The Irish Regiment colors were ‘the first planted on the recaptured works and were the first to advance in the charge’. Captain Healy himself carried the state colors for the first part of the charge, until he found that it restricted his ability to issue orders. Captain James Graham of the Ninth would look back on the battle years later as one of the Regiment’s finest achievements, and as a place where the unit had ‘greatly distinguished itself’ with the ‘colors of the battalion in the van of all other flags on that field‘. He remembered the private who carried the national flag (John T. Morrow), as well as the corporal and two officers who were with him at the forefront of the attack, as the ‘four daring spirits who led the Federal army in the victorious charge that finally overthrew Early and ended the valley campaign’.

The Battle of Cedar Creek was indeed the decisive battle of the Valley Campaign of 1864; the threat to Washington D.C. dissipated and Early’s troops would eventually return to the Army of Northern Virginia. The Ninth Connecticut lost two men killed, fifteen men wounded, and eight men missing during the engagement. Today, the battlefield of Cedar Creek is on the Civil War Preservation Trust’s most endangered battlefields list and needs your help to preserve the site for future generations.

Just curious are you researching the 9th? Ive been researching the 9th Connecticut for about 20 years , had a ancestor in it. In the photograph you have of the 9th officers is also John Bolger. He was a Sgt in the Confederate Army captured at Ft Jackson below New Orleans and joined the 9th and rose to 1st Lt. The 9th recruited about 200 men in New Orleans.

That is absolutely fascinating! I wasn’t aware of that- were many of the New Orleans men they raised Irish?. I’m not researching the 9th at the moment (I am working on the 5th Confederate Infantry, mainly Irishmen from Memphis). They are a very interesting regiment though, I’m hoping they will feature in a few more posts over time!
Kind Regards,

Yes the 9th took in about 200 men and 7 colored men to be cooks in New Orleans. Bolger was in the Regular Confederate Army. Not a state unit but one of only 2 regiments of regular Confederate Army. He was a Sgt and was on the gunboat Mississippi captured at the Forts and went over to the 9th. After the war about 5 ex 9th officers took jobs in New Orleans in the goverment and Bolger got a job in the New Orleans Police Dept under Lt Lawler who had been a Lt in the 9th Connecticut. The statue put up at Grants Canal in Vicksburg dedicated to the 9th Connecticut is one of the first statues put up there in many years take a look at it beautiful statue. There is also a 9th Connecticut website you may want to look at. We have the wreath laying of the 9th Statue in New Haven Connecticut this weekend.

One thing to remember. The 9th did not have their Irish flag at Cedar Creek. When the regiment demobed only enough men reuped to stay in so they were formed into a 4 company battalion. Lt Col Healy was Co and they had 4 companies under Capts Scott, Sheridan, Lee and Lt Graham. The 9ths old flags were turned in and they received new colors.The new 9th state flag was not of Irish Design it was the typical Connecticut State flag that all Connecticut regiments carried.

I have been researching my ancestry of Kelly’s/ McKenna’s and a distant relative alerted me that she has a letter about the McKenna’s being relation to General Sheridan but does not go into detail. I am researching to find out more. I was hoping someone could help me. Thank

Trisha your best bet is ancestry.com. They have plenty of info on Sheridan. You know his birth has been kinda fudged some say he was born in Ireland or on the boat on the way over, Sheridan says he was born in USA. As for his relatives and yours being related ancestry has plenty of family trees. I found a lot of other people research my same Irish Civil War ancestors so you should have so luck there. The 9th Connecticut a all Irish unit had a Italian immigrant as their Chaplin and at one point Sheridan was going to have him hung as he thought he was giving aid to the enemy.

I recently discovered that my g.g. grandfather James J. Condren (1840-1878) enlisted in the 9th Connecticut shortly after he arrived in the U.S. from Ireland. His CSR shows him enlisting 22 Sept. 1861 and being part of it until May/June 1865. His record says he was born in “Seven Churches” Ireland which I’m thinking may be County Offaly. After the war he worked, according to city directories, as a gardener at the Colt mansion in Hartford. He married Mary Eloise Campbell who came from County Westmeath. They married in Hartford 23 Aug. 1868 (St. Patrick’s Church). They are buried in the Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield, Harford County CT. I am new to both military research and research in Ireland (lots of Irish ancestry but he’s one of the first I’ve been able to identify a specific hometown for). Any suggestions about how I can learn more about my soldier and his experience?

Iv been researching the 9th Connecticut Infantry and 9th Connecticut Battalion for 30 years. I have a ancestor in the unit and have done years of work. I hold one of the largest 9th letters, cdv’s and weapons and documents I share my records unlike some others. There are very few letterrs written by the 9th many were illiterate. Colonel Cahills letters will soon be published

Thanks Joe. It sounds like this is a real passion of yours. If you have anything on my ancestor James Condren I’d love to know about it. A CDV would be a dream come true (I have no photos of him) but I’m not holding my breath. His CSR notes that he was demoted at one point from a Corporal to a Private by Col. Cahill but it doesn’t say why and overall his record seems good. Any idea why this would have been?
Is there anything you can suggest that I can read to help me “flesh out” this period of my ancestor’s life?

I can find no one by that name in either of my data bases is the name spelling correct? There are only 6 Condrens listed (no James) in the Civil war and none from Connecticut. You can email me at jkelly311@comcast.net

Captain Laurence O’BRIEN is my great, great, grandfather. His son Edward born about 1874 who lived at 97 Mill Rriver in New Haven was the father of my grandmother, Edna Mae O’Brien born about 1902. Edna Mae O’Brien married Ernest Conklin. They are the parents of my mother, Edna Mae Conklin born 4/15/1922. My mother married Salvatore Carlis, also of New Haven and I was born in 1957 in New Haven. I am interested in finding out as much as I can about Captain Laurence O’BRIEN and also his descendants. My son would love to research our family history as well. My name is Doreen. My email is dquattro24@aol.com

Many thanks for this information! There will shortly be a new book out looking at the 9th Connecticut among other units by Ryan Keating so worth keeping an eye out for. Also you can access an online version of the 9th’s history on the Books page of the site.

Hi, I just came across your article about Captain Laurence O’BRIEN. He is my great, great, grandfather. His son Edward born about 1874 who lived at 97 Mill Rriver in New Haven was the father of my grandmother, Edna Mae O’Brien born about 1902. Edna Mae O’Brien married Ernest Conklin. They are the parents of my mother, Edna Mae Conklin born 4/15/1922. I was born in 1957 in New Haven. I am interested in finding out as much as I can about Captain Laurence O’BRIEN. My son would love to research our family history as well. My name is Doreen. My email is dquattro24@aol.com